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“Why?”

“You’ll see,” he replied, climbing in and saying hello to Sitka who was excitedly wagging her tail.

“Hey, big girl. Hell, you’re getting bigger every time I see you.”

I smiled as I watched him rub Sitka behind her ears, and when I closed the door, she stepped over Fennec to lick my face.

“Hey, Sitka. I missed you too,” I laughed, scratching her head and trying to get her off me.

“Back up, Sit. Give them some space,” Jason muttered as he got into the driver’s seat.

Papa sat in front of me, and I placed my hand on his shoulder to silently show him my appreciation for him coming to Fairbanks with us.

He placed his hand on mine and squeezed gently, then I leaned back and put my seatbelt on.

“Mama’s gonna be so happy to see you two again. It’s been a while,” I told Papa and Fen.

“I’m excited to see her too. Has she changed much?”

“Look-wise? No. She’s still as beautiful as she was years ago,” I assured him, knowing they were both still madly in love with each other.

They somehow made it work, and their love was stronger than anyone’s ever.

“I can’t wait to see her again,” Papa said, smiling.

“Me too. I missed her,” Fennec added, placing his hand on my inner thigh with his eyes on mine.

I smiled at him and hugged his arm, leaning against him as Jason started driving.

“The town’s gonna be looking at all of you when you’re back. Last time I was there to get Sitka to the vet, people had been talking about you. Saying that they think you’ve been killed by a bear by now.”

I frowned at Jason’s words, but luckily, Papa and Fennec laughed at them. “They can think whatever the hell they want. It’s them who are living a fucking lie,” Papa murmured.

“They’re being decent human beings,” Jason said.

“They’re being controlled by the government. We’re free. You’re only a few steps away from being as free as we are, big guy,” Papa replied.

“I’m happy to pay bills and taxes. Money exists for a reason.”

“Yeah, but we don’t need it. We’re doing just fine out in the wilderness,” Fennec told Jason.

I had enough of their discussion, so I leaned over Fennec’s lap to look upfront and get closer to Jason.

“Is Sitka better now that you brought her to the vet?” I asked.

“Yeah. She threw up a few times before I left with her, but she’s better now. Had to take some pills.”

I nodded, letting Sitka sniff my head before I leaned back and scratched the spot underneath her chin.

To my luck, neither of the men talked about money or society anymore, and I enjoyed the snowy street we rode along, holding on to Fennec’s hand and taking in every moment I had with him.

19

Vespyr had fallen asleep on my lap while Sitka has been drooling all over my shoulder and breathing heavily.

Alaskan Malamutes were big fucking dogs, but they were gentle and kind.

Papa and Jason had been talking throughout the drive, and we were almost in Fairbanks, only less than an hour away.

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